Universal Studios has just sent out a press release announcing that they are providing fans with a "backstage pass" to this year's Halloween Horror Nights. Before you Los Angeles Halloween fans work yourselves into a frightful frenzy about an opportunity to literally step behind the scenes and see how this theme park attraction is put together, you should know that the "backstage pass" takes the form of updates and newsbites delivered via Twitter and Facebook.

Many of the tweets seem to be information regarding casting ("You must be 18 years or older to audition for HHN"). The most recent news regarding the actual attraction is that there will be a maze scarezone based on the romantic zombie-comedy SHAUN OF THE DEAD, which certainly seems to have some Halloween potential, offering a contrast to the torture porn approach of the SAW franchise, which is this year's theme for Halloween Horror Nights.

From the press release:

— For the first time, Universal Studios Hollywood is offering fans behind-the-scenes access to its terrifying and highly anticipated “Halloween Horror Nights” through social networking sites, Twitter and Facebook.

Via Twitter, “Halloween Horror Nights’” Creative Director John Murdy will reveal exclusive information on @HorrorNights as he “tweets” a running creative chronicle of the celebrated event’s design, casting and production, among other eagerly awaited nuggets of information. Through the event’s Facebook page, "Halloween Horror Nights - (Official)," fans are invited to become a part of the process with regular updates, exclusive content highlights and an opportunity to interact with one other.

Through Murdy’s creative direction, “Halloween Horror Nights” - Southern California’s most terrifying Halloween event - pairs ’s top entertainment scenic and special effects artists with a cast of thousands. The event brings great films from the horror genre to life with shockingly scary “live” experiences within the theme park and via the “Terror Tram“ on the movie studio’s famed back lot.

Joshua Cole, VP, Interactive Marketing, Universal Studios Hollywood, noted: “’The ‘Halloween Horror Nights’ event is an ideal fit for social media. Our guests eagerly await the highly experiential event with an increasing thirst for information. We’re excited that for the first time, we’re able to offer them instantaneous news and access to the event via Twitter and Facebook with insight from Creative Director, John Murdy, who will communicate directly with fans who share his passion for the horror genre.”

This year, “Halloween Horror Nights” will present all-new “live” experiences based on one of the all-time biggest box-office horror franchises, SAW, per an agreement among , Lionsgate and Twisted Pictures. All-new mazes, scare zones and new shows will be featured.